21 June 2008

Catch Up 14 June - 20 June 2008

My son reminded me that I hadn't posted a blog entry in over a week, so I thought I'd better do a bit of a catch up.

I still felt quite unwell all last weekend (I wrote on the 13th about not feeling great) and started taking antibiotics on Sunday. I am feeling much better, but it took a few days to be able to build back up to the same activity level that I'd been at before the 'crud'. From what I can gather, I had a cold or some other virus that then turned into bronchitis.

I am still deep into learning and experimenting with what I can do with Drupal (a website content management system). I've spent a fair amount of time on learning how to code so that my glucose readings from my current website can be added into Drupal in a couple of different ways. I'm still working on it. The purpose, aside from being able to convert my personal website to Drupal, is to also learn everything I will need to know in order to do similar with other websites I work on. Exploring and learning new stuff has really been a joy at times. It's nice to give my brain a bit of a workout and to be thinking of other things besides my health, especially last weekend when the crud was in full force.

Monday I had an appt with the breast cancer clinic. My GP had referred me there a couple of weeks ago because I have some pain under my arm on the left side (the cancer was on my right), and he thought it should be checked out. I had a mammogram, and everything came out OK. I don't need to see them for another year. I don't even have to keep my appt with them in September for my 7yr check up. While being VERY pleased about this, and I saw the mammogram, it really is quite clear, I still have the pain under my arm. So I'll be going back to the GP about this sometime next week.

My new 'talking' pedometer proved to be a real problem when it just would start talking at me for every little brush of the 'talk' button. I had Rod 'mute it' for me, and well, he did such a great job, it no longer works. So with no pedometer and not feeling well at all, I didn't do much walking the beginning of the week, but by Weds or Thurs I was finally able to take a good walk and have continued since. Rod's going to have another look at the pedometer for me to see if he can fix it. If he can't, I'll order one online.

Last night (Thurs 19 June), there was a TAFE ceremony for IT students who have completed studies in various certifications. Rod received his certificate 4 in Network Security. rod-cert4 He is just finishing the advanced diploma in the same subject with only 2 more weeks to go. The ceremony for that will be in Adelaide, apparently near the end of the year. He's worked very hard for this. More pics can be seen in my Flickr photo set.

I bought a new external hard drive that arrived this week. The only thing making it 'external' was the case, power plug and USB cable. What's inside is a Sata drive, which happens to be not only what my computer can handle internally, I also had a slot and cables for it, plus it'd be faster if we put it into the computer itself. So I asked Rod to do this for me today while I was at my Breastroke meeting. I also had a bit of cable changes I wanted to make and had planned to do this on my own, but since the computer had to be pulled out in order to get the drive in, I jotted down my list of changes (mostly extension cables added for the cameras), and Rod did all the physical stuff this afternoon.

The new hard drive is 500gig (wow - biggest I've ever had), and while it's nice and works and all that I still can't quite make use of it yet as I've decided that since I plan to upgrade from Ubuntu Feisty Fawn to Hardy Heron, I may as well use the new blank drive for installing Ubuntu on as that way I'll have far less work copying stuff and being a faster drive than what I am using, that'll be great for me as well. Then I can use my current drive for storing videos, photos, music and software downloads -- without having to copy a bazillion files to another drive. The files can stay right where they are. So, installing the new operating system will be done next week. I'm looking forward to it, just to see what's new.

Tonight, since the cables have been extended, I was able to move my personal web cam back to where it was before I got my new desk a few months ago. It used to be attached to my monitor, but having the new desk meant it no longer reached my monitor. So that's back to normal, and I've also found for this particular camera double sided tape really makes all the difference in the world. I can pretty much but it anywhere and the tape does a great job of keeping it in place.

And last, ever since he was born, the background photo on my mobile phone has had a photo of my grandson. It's a great place for it because I look at my phone a lot during the day, and I find myself talking to his picture as if he's in the room with me. I really love him to bits, even though we haven't met in person. Oh, and it's winter, so hopefully soon Terry and Jennifer will send me back my lovely warm wrap that Ricky has been cuddled in, so I snuggle up in it knowing he's had it wrapped around him too.

Must end this.... am so tired tonight and geez, it's nearly 1:30am. Zzzzzzzzzz

14 June 2008

Including PHP includes on a Drupal multisite set up

I'm adding this snipped just in case it helps someone else, or maybe someone else might have a better solution and share it. Either way, it's good to share.

Drupal is set up on our servers as a 'Multisite' set up... so that several domains/web sites all use the core software but have individual things like themes (how things look) and modules (various ways of doing things) that are for each individual site. I've set up a testbed type site, and I'm now testing for doing things like PHP programming so I can include some of the stuff I use on my personal site. That way once I work out the kinks, I can convert my website to use Drupal too.

The hard bit has been being able to use 'include' files that can be used many times over by my software. The big issue is where to put these files so they are safe, and yet so the web server and the Drupal software can find it, while keeping it separate from the other Drupal websites and the core software. I tried lots of things to get this to work.

There's a command for Apache (the webserver) to tell it where to look for PHP include files. This would only work if I put it in the main file that affects all websites, so that wasn't a good solution. I tried using an .htaccess file in the main folder but that didn't work - the command is ignored for security reasons, as it should be).

In the end, it turned out to be a variable defined at the top of my web page that looks like:
  • $inc_dir = "/PATH/TO/CUSTOM/INCLUDES/HERE";

and then where I want to include the file in my code, I just have:

  • include("$inc_dir/FILENAME.inc");

That's it. Very simple. Now I can go on to sorting more complex issues out. If you know of a better way to do this, please leave a comment. I'd be happy to hear from you.


Fri 13 June (Happy B'day Mike!)

09:38:00   6.3  / 114  Fasting   
13:03:00 5.7 / 103 Pre-Lunch
15:12:00 6.8 / 122 Post-Lunch
19:16:00 4.9 / 89 Pre-Tea
23:00:00 10.1 / 181 Post-Tea

Driving Totals: Daytime: 1050 mins of 2400 req // Nighttime: 505 mins of 600 req

W: 91.5 (not feeling well hasn't helped with this at all. ugh)

Total Steps: 2150 so far (forgot my pedometer when we went grocery shopping)

Breakfast: half toasted cheese sandwich on low GI bread
Lunch: sausage roll and cottage cheese
Tea: fish & chips


Notes: It's my former hubby's b'day. Happy B'day Mike! I still feel rough. RDNS nurse said I looked pale and asked if I'd seen the GP yet. No. Have appt at BC Clinic on Monday. My new meter arrived today along with a kit to return the defective one. And comparing just the regular display on both models shows my old one was hard to read even without the backlight - there's a real difference between them, so obviously there's more wrong with it than just the backlight. I'm amazed and pleased they replaced it so quickly.

Missed Breastroke today. I ended up napping during that time, which was probably best for me at this point. Uploaded a real mix of stuff to Flickr this evening, which started off because I rec'd a new butterfly postcard in the mail from Angelina in Finland. What a nice surprise to my day. This evening I solved a little PHP coding puzzle that I had with using include files on a multisite installation. Now I can get into converting my own site and the VCSWEB site to use Drupal since sorting out how to do this was pretty much the key requirement for me to be able to include my own PHP coded stuff on our various sites. I'm really pleased about it - and it was so simple.

I'm taking 2 Panadols and 1 Panadiene Forte every 4hrs. This means I'm taking an extra 500mg paracetamol than I should, but 1 of each isn't working, and if I have two of the Panadiene Forte's I wouldn't be able to function.

Thur 12 June

07:58:00   7.1  / 128  Fasting   
11:34:00 8.3 / 150 Post-Bfast
12:53:00 6.6 / 119 Pre-Lunch
16:20:00 6.6 / 119 Post-Lunch
17:16:00 5.3 / 95 Pre-Tea
22:42:00 6.1 / 110 Post-Tea

Driving Totals: Daytime: 1050 mins of 2400 req // Nighttime: 505 mins of 600 req

W: 91

Total Steps: 4071

Breakfast: half toasted cheese sandwich on low GI bread
Lunch: sausage roll and cottage cheese
Tea: KFC - 5 wings, half chips & gravy.

Fluids: 3 litres

Notes: Had an appt today, but she rang up and rescheduled. Very rainy nasty day. My glucose meter's backlight stopped working, and I've only had the thing since April, and had to put in a new battery then because there was no backlight. So I rang and asked about this and they are sending me a new one that should arrive tomorrow or Monday. We skipped grocery shopping last night as I wasn't up to it and it was pouring down with rain.

12 June 2008

Wed 11 June

08:12:00   7.8  / 141  Fasting   
13:11:00 5.1 / 92 Pre-Lunch
15:44:00 5.3 / 96 Post-Lunch
17:22:00 5.3 / 95 Pre-Tea
22:40:00 6.1 / 110 Post-Tea

Driving Totals: Daytime: 1050 mins of 2400 req // Nighttime: 505 mins of 600 req


Total Steps: 8411

Breakfast: half toasted cheese sandwich on low GI bread
Lunch: sausage roll & cottage cheese
Tea: lamb chops, veggies, potatoes

Fluids: 3.1 litres

Notes: Did a few loads laundry today, and took it very easy hanging stuff. My method is to hang everything on hangers and then put the hangers on the clothes line. It keeps things very tidy and it's easier for me than trying to clip things to the line with my arms over my head. My left side is still quite painful, but wasn't bad earlier today until I went for my walk. Apparently walking with my purse on my shoulder is a no no at the moment. No, the shoulder doesn't hurt, just the ribs/muscles under the arm, and around to the front. I had planned to go to Cunninghams as I haven't been there in awhile (a cheap shop) and the Salvation Army 2nd hand store, but the pain changed my plans a bit. I knew I'd be fine getting there as it's downhill. Getting back home would be the hard part, so I opted to get a scratchy instead.

Not sure if I've mentioned but I'm cutting back on the scratchies. I'm still taking my daily walk, but try to limit buying scratchies to Saturdays and maybe one or two other days. After over 6 months, it's pretty obvious to me that as much as I might enjoy doing these, there's really nothing to be gained by it aside from a few minutes of enjoyment. I can get just as much pleasure out of doing a sudoku game while having a cup of tea.

My fasting BGL was a bit high this morning because I woke up early (pain) and needed something to eat as I had an upset stomach from the pain medication. I had a couple crackers with vegemite, which always settles my stomach.

11 June 2008

Tue 10 June

08:05:00   6.7  / 121  Fasting   
13:06:00 5.4 / 97 Pre-Lunch
16:30:00 6.7 / 120 Post-Lunch
18:35:00 5.0 / 90 Pre-Tea
21:48:00 7.9 / 142 Post-Tea

Driving Totals: Daytime: 1050 mins of 2400 req // Nighttime: 505 mins of 600 req
15 min driving this morning

Total Steps: 11,343

Breakfast: half toasted cheese sandwich on low GI bread
Lunch: sausage on a bun, cottage cheese
Tea: home made chilli (very very hot - "No Mercy") and 3 low carb tortillas

Fluids: 2.625 litres so far

Notes: This morning was real mixed bag. I was up around 3am because my right side was very sore. I had a cough, and pulled a muscle or cracked a rib or something on the LEFT side. Arg. I went back to bed and drifted in and out of sleep until 8am when it was time to get up. If it hadn't been a day that I take Rod to school (ie driving), I'd of taken a Panadiene Forte (like Tylenol with codiene), but alas, I needed my wits about me. Took Rod to school, had my dressing changed by the RDNS nurses, who both told me I should see my GP as it was obvious I was in a lot of pain. Walked to Colonnades as I usually do for my walk, and while browsing, realised I had to go to the loo. The first one I went to was 'closed for cleaning'. Finally found another one and as I was unzipping my jeans, the zipper got stuck... in my skin. So there I am, leaning against the wall of the stall, both left and right rib cages hurting, trying to get the zipper down without having to resort to outside help or tearing my skin, and really wondering where this was going to lead. As I'm struggling, I bumped my pedometer, which promptly fell into the toilet. My little red Kellogg's pedometer has survived a heck of a lot over the last few years, but it has always had a bad tendency of either falling off at the most inopportune moment or getting occidentally reset. Well, this was the end of that pedometer. Sigh. Shortly thereafter my skin finally came unstuck. Phew. It was only a tiny bit of skin that had been caught, but of course I didn't know that before it finally came free.

So my next project was finding a new pedometer. I was really annoyed as I really don't have $20 extra to spend on one and that was the going rate I'd seen for them the other day in one store. So on a whim, I tried Kmart and managed to find one that 'speaks', has a cover (so as to not get occidentally reset), and a better type of clip. It also speaks the time, has alarms, a stop watch, and calibrates stride length for giving distance information. All for the hefty price of (drum roll ... ) $4.00. I was tempted to buy 2 so as to have a spare.

The next thing I wanted to see if I could find (although I had my doubts I'd have much luck) were Shirataki noodles. These are Asian noodles that have very low (nearly zero) carbs. I didn't find them, but I was rewarded. One of the 'continental' shops carries items from all over the world, and ... oh, on a day I really could use just a little bit of 'comfort food'... Reeces peanut butter cups. I bought 2 packages. And amazingly did not sit down and eat a package immediately. I did have some later, but made sure it was with my lunch and because of that (and making sure I had lots of protien to balance it with), and did lots of physical stuff afterwards, my afternoon BGLs were still in the normal range.

The rest of the day was pretty normal. The pain in both sides eased considerable this evening, which happened to coincide with when a very windy rainy period came along. Hmm. I'm not sure if it's just I took enough pain medication or if it was the weather, but either way, both sides are much better than they had been, and I'm very grateful.


10 June 2008

Mon 9 June

02:16:00   5.4  /  97  Post-Tea  
09:47:00 6.9 / 124 Fasting
13:22:00 4.3 / 78 Pre-Lunch
17:25:00 7.8 / 140 Post-Lunch
19:24:00 6.1 / 109 Pre-Tea
22:31:00 11.5 / 207 Post-Tea

Driving Totals: Daytime: 1035 mins of 2400 req // Nighttime: 505 mins of 600 req

W: 90

Total Steps: 9823

Breakfast: half toasted cheese sandwich on low GI bread
Lunch: scrambled eggs and 2 crumpet toasts. In a lot of pain from cracked rib or muscle pulled.
Tea: 2 sausages w/ saurkraut on hot dog buns. Should have had only 1 bun.

Notes: Holiday (Queen's B'day). Think I broke a rib or pulled a muscle right where the hole is in my side. Ouch. Walked to chemist to pick up antihistamines. Started batch of yoghurt. Lawn mowed.


09 June 2008

Sun 8 June

07:34:00   7.6  / 136  Fasting   
14:07:00 6.2 / 111 Pre-Lunch
22:09:00 5.1 / 91 Pre-Tea

Driving Totals: Daytime: 1035 mins of 2400 req // Nighttime: 505 mins of 600 req

Breakfast: half toasted cheese sandwich on low GI bread
Lunch: 2 eggs, bacon, mushrooms and 2 crumpet toast
Tea: 2 slices pizza (thinner crust)

Notes: Ran out of antihistimines.

Sat 7 June

08:04:00   7.2  / 129  Fasting   
16:52:00 5.1 / 91 Post-Lunch
23:05:00 9.6 / 173 Post-Tea

Driving Totals: Daytime: 1035 mins of 2400 req // Nighttime: 505 mins of 600 req
30 mins day time driving.

Scratchy: $4 on $3 7246 steps

Total Steps: 7246 so far

Breakfast: half toasted cheese sandwich w/ low GI bread
Lunch: seafood platter (Lunch group)
Tea: 2 steak sandwiches with cheese. Minute steak, low GI bread. Next time only 1 sandwich.

Notes: Lunch with Erik, his Mum and Ann. Driving was terrible today. Had a very nice walk this afternoon on the walking trail.

07 June 2008

Fri 6 June

07:39:00   7.7  / 139  Fasting   
13:25:00 5.1 / 92 Pre-Lunch
19:43:00 10.7 / 192 Pre-Tea
23:17:00 8.6 / 155 Post-Tea

Driving Totals: Daytime: 980 mins of 2400 req // Nighttime: 505 mins of 600 req
65 mins day time driving.

Total Steps: 7255

Breakfast: half toasted cheese sandwich w/ low GI bread
Lunch: sausage roll and cottage cheese
Afternoon Tea w/ Girls: Lots I shouldn't have had.
Tea: fish & chips

Notes: RDNS dressing change, Lymphedema treatment (laser and MLD). Rod instructed on how to do the MLD. Breastroke meeting. Julie and Audrey came and it was wonderful to see everyone.

06 June 2008

Mon 2 June - Thur 5 June

Mon 2 June

Scratchy: no win. 2659 steps

Total Steps: 3144 + 172 so far (counter reset)

Breakfast: half toasted cheese sandwich
Lunch: sausage roll and cottage cheese, leftover chicken wing


Tue 3 June

Scratchy: no win. 4878 steps

Total Steps: 4400 + 4211 so far

Breakfast: egg & bacon mcmuffin
Lunch: sausage roll and cottage cheese
Tea: chicken schnitzel

Wed 4 June

Scratchy: last one except for saturdays. No win. 4924 steps

Thur 5 June

05:52:00   7.8  / 140  Fasting   
09:43:00 7.1 / 127 Pre-Bfast
13:02:00 6.3 / 114 Pre-Lunch
16:38:00 6.6 / 118 Post-Lunch
21:20:00 6.1 / 109 Pre-Tea
23:44:00 6.9 / 124 Post-Tea


Driving Totals: Driving Totals: Daytime: 915 mins of 2400 req // Nighttime: 505 mins of 600 req
60 mins night time driving.

03 June 2008

First Banana Feeding

I just watched a video Terry and Jen sent me of little Ricky having his first solid food on a spoon. He's so cute, and he certainly figured it out pretty quickly too.

In comment to Terry -- have had no problems wearing the geek earrings - Fira asked me a while back about what metals I can wear and I thought she was asking for herself, but turns out she was being sneaky. :-)

I don't know the metal for sure for these earrings, but I can either wear real silver, or pewter without any problems.

I was just looking at baby toys today. I miss my grandson! Waah! (that's me waahing, not the baby).

01 June 2008

Wed 28 May -- Sat 31 May

I have been apparently running a fever and the psuedomonas infection has made a re-appearance in my wound as well. Of course I didn't really know this until my RDNS appt on Friday, and I finally had to admit that yes, I have been feeling pretty off for a few days now.

While I let things like updating my BGL records and stuff slide, I have been very productive on the web side of things. Yesterday I completed the Breastroke site, which has been 'in the wings' for almost a year now. I was able to complete it as I've been learning and exploring using Drupal (a website content management system) and things just fell together really quite well. I got a bit nuts with working on it and leaving other stuff (like updating my own personal stuff) a bit behind. I've always found the computer to keep me busy and distracted when I've been a bit on the unwell side, and so I think this also played into things the last week. It's great to have something interesting and challenging, and I've learned so much in the last week. This is the first I've really felt that lovely 'spark' I used to have a long time ago. It's nice.

On the other hand, maybe that's just the fever talking. At any rate, I plan to continue to take it easy and I have a GP appointment for tomorrow (Monday).

Tue 27 May

Driving Totals: Driving Totals: Daytime: 915 mins of 2400 req // Nighttime: 445 mins of 600 req
1 hour night time driving


Notes: See: The Misadventures of Rod and Gaelyne